Curzon share the spoils with York City

National League North: Curzon Ashton 0-0 York City

York travelled to the Tameside stadium on the back of two defeats while Curzon themselves were busy in the transfer market bringing in Matthew Rain and also loaning Nyal Bell from Kidderminster Harriers.

Curzon also had to make three changes to the side that beat league leaders AFC Fylde last weekend with Harry Flowers, Adam Thomas and Matthew Waters all unavailable for manager Adam Lakeland to choose. 

Curzon started brightly through new signing Rain attacking York down the left forcing the first corner of the game and Dale Whitman came close to opening the scoring when on 4 minutes his header was cleared off the line. 

At the other end Curzon’s keeper Chris Renshaw had to be alert to push the shot from Clayton Donaldson onto the crossbar and out for a corner.

York then put the pressure onto Curzon and a minute later Adam Senior came the closest of opening the scoring when his strike from the edge of the box hit Curzon’s crossbar for the second time.

Curzon then had to weather the storm which they did well and began to settle just struggling to do anything in their final third with Bell well marshalled by York's centre halves.

The next effort came on 15 minutes when following a corner Mark Beck attacked the ball at the near post but steered his effort the wrong side the post.

Curzon's next chance came on 29 minutes when Alex Curran found some space to hit a effort from around 20 yards out but York’s keeper Peter Jameson collected it with ease.

York continuing to have most of the possession but Curzon did well to deny them many chances, it wasn’t until the 44th minute until York created they next chance when Patrick McLaughlin moving into the Curzon box from the right hit his first effort which Renshaw did well to save but the ball bounced off him back into the path of McLaughlin and Renshaw was equal to his second attempt, saving again.

Just before half time a ball into Curzon’s box was met by Beck who headed the ball back across the box to Donaldson who’s header to the far post was cleared off the line by Craig Mahon.

In the second half York continued to put the pressure onto Curzon forcing Curzon to defend in numbers, having to throw their bodies in front of shots which Marcus Poscha did very well on 58 minutes to deny McLaughlin a certain goal.

On 72 minutes the Tameside stadium nearly erupted when Mahon cut the York’s defence with a superb pass, Jameson couldn’t get hold of the ball and it bounced around until Jack McKay put the ball in the back of the net only for referee Richard Aspinall to blow for offside.

But from that effort Curzon had their best spell of the game forcing York to defend rather than attack and through Mahon he drove Curzon forward looking for another breakthrough or chance while the York fans started showing their frustration towards their manager and team.

On 84 minutes Curzon forced two corners but just could not find the right ball to test Jameson, but they were producing a much better display 

But in the last five minutes Curzon had to defend deeply as York pumped everything forward looking for the goal their display warranted but it never came.

On the final whistle York continued their dismal record at the Tameside Stadium of not winning a fixture for over four years and Curzon who were not at their best today defended brilliantly and in the final 10 minutes could have stole all three points.